The Ex Machina actress brings her Royal Ballet School training to her debut as director, with Julie Delpy, Emma D'Arcy, and Takehiro Hira leading the ensemble.

Sonoya Mizuno trained at the Royal Ballet School in London and danced professionally with the English National Ballet, the Dresden Semper Oper Ballet, and Scottish Ballet before pivoting to acting. With Stages, her debut feature, both careers converge.

A24 will distribute the film domestically. Focus Features has acquired international rights, with Universal Pictures International handling international release. UK production is currently underway.

Julie Delpy, Takehiro Hira, Kathryn Hunter, and Kate Dickie have joined previously announced Emma D'Arcy in the ensemble. The film follows a young dancer at an elite ballet school who earns the lead in a prestigious recital, only for a family tragedy to shatter her concentration. Choreographer Hofesh Shechter and cinematographer Wyatt Garfield round out the creative team. Alex Garland, who cast Mizuno in Ex Machina, serves as executive producer.

"Sonoya's script is beautiful and heartfelt," said producer Sam Ritzenberg. "She's assembled a wonderful cast and creative team, and stepped into directing with real confidence."

Mizuno was last seen on screen as Mysaria in House of the Dragon. Stages is the first time she works from the other side of the camera.